Washing machine



J. J. GEIGER WASHING MACHINE Aug. 28, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1948 INVENTOR.

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Aug? 119511 J. J]. GEKGER Z SGS GWE WASHING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet S INVENTOR.

.3). J. GEHGER WASHING MACHINE Aug 2, W53

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1948 INIZZIIiTOR. J egg- 2 Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UN I TE D STATES PATENT OFFICE I 1 1 2,565,604. I WASHING MACHINE )JohnJ. Geiger, San Bernardino, Calif. ApplicationJune-28, 1948,, SerialNo. 353323" 6 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to. improvements in washing machines and more particularly to that classv which is adapted.- for household and other general use.

The; primary object of the invention is to provide a washing machine. with a rotary Wa receptacle in which clothesand other material to be washed and dried are held, said. receptacle, being compensated while in motion to counteract and reduce unevenness. of load, vibration and jar automatically.

Another. object. is to improve the construction of a washing machine so as. to increase-its. utility andjwiden its field'of usefulness and application.

Another object is to reduce. excessive. wear, simplify construction and provide means by which the various parts of the. machine can be shifted into and out of operation under thecontrol of. an operator.

Among other objects is the Production of a washing machine of its kind which is. adapted to wash and dry materialin an eificient' manner, in a minimum of time and with minimum of wear. and effort.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of which the accompanying drawings form a part;

Fig. 1 ofthe drawings is a front elevation of my improved washing machine showing the outer shutter of the service passageway entering the washing material tumble barrel or drum, in wide open position; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, when the door, which normally closes the service passageway entering the tumble barrel is closed; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section of a detail at enlarged scale taken approximately on theline L- l of Fig. 3 Fig. 5' is asection of a detail taken on the line 5-5- of Fig. 4. and Fig. 6 is an end view of the inner cylindrical resiliently supported cylindrical tumble barrel.

Referring to the drawings, my improved washing machine is shown having a rectangular cabinet or housing A constructedout of thin sheetmetal or other suitable material and containing a closed rigidly held cylindrical tub B which is disposed on a horizontal axis in the chamber within the cabinet. The cabinet has an inner vertical back wall I3, top wall l4-,- opposite side walls. lfi-lii and a horizontal floor I6. Casters I! are mounted below the floor ifi t'o enable the washing machine to :be easily moved; andaipneu matic. suction cup I8 is verticallymovablebelow and" on the cabinet'to enable-the lattervw-hen' the 2. suction cup is lowered'to be maintained instationary position on. a supporting surface.

The tub B is capable of, normally holding washing liquid and has a cylindrical sidewall l9. and integral back and front end Walls 20 and 2|, all of said Walls being solid, that is unperforated. The back end wall is journaled by the bearing 22 on the horizontal sleeve 23 and in the bearing 24 behind the backwalll3 of the cabinet; Theirontoendwall 2| isjournaled on the annular bearing 25' which is held rigidly within the circular door frame 26 on the front end-wall of the cabinet. The door frame 26' forms a front entrance entering thetub and washing material tumble barrel C. The tumble barrel C iscylinder like and rotatable in the tub with its axis disposed horizontally, said'tub B; bearing sleeve 23' and bearings 24 being; horizontally and. coaxially disposed in the cabinet;

The tub B has an orifice or mouth 30 in its side through which soap or washingcompound can be admitted thereinto or the liquid content of the tub can be emptied. For this purpose the tub is adapted to be-reciprocated intotwo positions, one when the opening '30 registers upwardly with a fixed spout 3|" in the cabinet through which soap isadapted to be deposited-into the tub andthe other when theliquid washing content of the tub is emptied into a compartment 32 in the lower portion of the cabinet and is allowed to egress through an outlet 33 in the floor of the cabinet. The reciprocation of the tubes stated is accomplished-through a pulley rim 34 mounted on theperimeter of thetub and a drive pulley 35 which is adapted to be actuated through hand controlled suitable transmission represented by. 38 and themotor 3.9. The transmission may be of any desired-type and isadaptedto. be hand controlled to either reciprocate the tub asv described'or to: revolve the tumble barrel C continuously ashereinaiter described. The opening. 3!] in the tub is providedwith outwardly project?- ing flanges 40. and: 4|. which are adapted to respectively strikestops 42 and 43 and'limitthe reciprocable movement in either direction when the opening Sllregisters in upwardor. downward position as stated; The flanges and openingin the tub are shown in. fulliline position irrFigr 3 when the tub assumes a; position suitable: for, emptying. Whenthe tubisrotatedin thesdirec tion of the arrow shownin Fig. 3, its opening--38v can be made to-register with spout 3| and. the washing operation then carriedon. V

The SIBQVE523-1S anintegral part of the drive ingdisk; member 4510f, the. washing 1 machine tumble barrel holder and is journaled on a fixed horizontal tubular spindle 46. Said spindle is held rigidly on a bracket 41 which is supported. by the cross beams 48 on the back wall [3 of the cabinet. The connecting portion between the inner end of the sleeve 23 and said driving disk 45 of the tumble barrel holder is slightly conical and points inwardly into the central portion of the tumble barrel C, thus functioning like a nozzle. This nozzle portion of the tumble barrel holder is journaled by the bearing 49 on the spindle. Washing liquid is adapted to be sprayed into the central portion of the tumble barrel on the washing material therein while the tumble barrel is revolving or Stationary through the spindle 4B and is controlled by valve 5%, said valve being opened or closed by the operating handle 5| and stem 52. A suitable source of water or other liquid supply at suitable temperature is admitted into the tumble barrel through the pipe connection 53 and spindle. A drive pulley as is rigidly secured to the end portion of sleeve 23, said pulley being driven by the belt and pulley connections 55 and 56, motor 39 and transmission 38. In this manner the tumble barrel C is adapted to be revolved and operated under the control of an operator.

The tumble barrel C is of general cylindrical shell form having a cylindrical side wall 58 composed of thin perforated material and formed with inturned back and front end walls 58 and B0. The rims at the opposite ends 5% and 623 of this cylindrical shell are formed with broad an= nular horizontal back and front circunisci-ibing bearing seats SI and E2 and said shell 58 is also formed at circumferentially spaced intervals apart with a plurality of inwardly directed longitudinal paddle members 63. These paddle members may be of suitable cross sectional contour (Fig. 5), having inwardly tapering opposite side walls 64 and 65, a flat inner portion 56 and open ends, thus forming transverse channels 51, directed inwardly towards the axis of the barrel. As many of these circumferentially arranged transverse paddles may be employed as desired, their function being to agitate, scrub and beat the washing material which is held in the tumble barrel as the latter is revolving.

The support for the tumble barrel has a driving disk member 45 and a cooperating op-= posite front end disk-like member 68 (Fig. 4), the latter circumscribing the front doorway. These two members 45 and 68 are rigidly connected at circumferentially spaced intervals apart corresponding with the paddles (53 by pairs of longitudinal channel members 69 and 10, which are fastened at their opposite ends to said end members 45 and 68, there being a pair of said channel members disposed in each paddle. Each pair of channel members has a longitudinal flat spring member H secured thereto with its arms projecting inwardly towards the axis of the tumble barrel. substantially equal tension so drical shell member 58 of the tumble barrel normally rides on a spring support coaxially in the tub with its outer periphery slightly spaced from the periphery of said holder. The channel members 69 and and spring ll of each unit also assist in transmitting rotary motion to the cylindrical tumble barrel member as the latter rides freely thereon. The end members 45 and 58 for freely supporting the tumble barrel are formed with peripheral inturned outer bearing rims l2 and 13 which cooperate respectively with These spring arms are of.

that the cylin-' the inner bearing rims BI and 62 in forming annular bearing channels at the opposite ends of the cylinder-like tumble barrel in which endless circular rubber-like compensating tubes D are held. These tubes are filled with any suitable fluid medium such as water or air and function to counteract uneven load of the washing material and washing liquid held in the tumble barrel and also compensate and subdue any vibration and jar caused by the revolution of the tumble barrel. This means of articulating the portions of the tumble barrel and cushioning the load thereof as it revolves either forwardly or backwardly is highly effective in operation and sub dues any tendency approaching uneven action. vibration and jar during the operation of the washing machine.

Any suitable door structure may be employed for closing and opening the front entrance, that shown having an outer pivoted frame 25 enclosing a glass panel which constitute an outer door 14. An inner hinged electrical heating door member 15 is also shown in the doorway through which a current of air is heated and circulated by forced draft, the latter being activated by the electric fan 16 and circulated through the chamber within the tumble barrel to dry the washing material after the washing liquid has been. drained from the tub and while entrance into the tub is in upward registration with the spout 3! and the tumble barrel revolves.

While I have shown and described my improvements as applied to a construction in which the tumble barrel revolves about a horizontal axis, it is to be understood that the construction can be modified and the tumble barrel disposed to revolve about an inclined or vertical axis within the spirit of the invention.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the construction thereof which I now consider to represent the best ernbodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having a service opening in one end thereof and an outlet in its side, a cylindrical tub rotatively supported about a horizontal axis Within said casing and having a side delivery opening for washing material and a pair of rotatable holders coaxially journaled in the tub and casing and having corresponding supporting perimeters, a drum having a perforated annular side wall and its end portions retained Within said supporting perimeters, and means for dampening vibration between said supporting perimeters and the end portions of said drum.

2. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having a service opening in one end thereof, a cylindrical tub rotatively supported about a horizontal axis within said casing and having an end service opening in registration with the end opening in said casing and a side delivery opening for washing material, a pair of rotatable holders coaxially journaled in the tub and casing, and having corresponding supporting perimeters, a drum having a perforated annular side wall and its end portions retained within said supporting perimeters, and means for dampening vibration between said supporting perimeters and the end portions of said drum,

3, In a washing machine, a stationary casing having a service opening in one end and in one side thereof, a cylindrical tub rotatively supported about a horizontal axis within said casing and having an end service opening in registration with the end opening in said casing, a pair of spaced end holders coaxially rotatable in the tub and casing, a tumbling drum having a perforated side wall and its opposite ends retained in said pair of holders, and annular resilient tubes interposed between said end holders and the end portions of said drum by which shock and vibration produced by the revolution of the drum and tumbling of washing material therein is cushionedl V 4. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having a service opening in one end thereof and a side service passage, a cylindrical tub rotatively supported about a horizontal aXis within said casing and having an end service opening in registration with the end opening in said casing and a side service passage adapted to register with said side service passage in said casing, a pair of holders coaxially journaled in the tub and casing and having inturned peripheral flanges, a tumbling drum having a perforated cylindrical side wall Within said flanges, and circular cushioning tubes interposed between the flanges of said holders and engaging portions of the circular side Wall of said drum.

5. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having service openings in one end and one side thereof, a cylindrical tub rotatively supported about a horizontal axis within said casing and having end and side service openings adapted to register respectively with the end and side service openings in said casing, disk holders coaxially journaled and spaced apart horizontally on the casing and tub and having a pair of inturned peripheral flanges, a tumble drum coaxially disposed and rotatively mounted in said tub and having a perforated annular side wall extended 6 within said flanges, and circular cushioning elements between the end portions of the tumble drum and said flanges by which jar and vibration produced by the revolution of the drum and tumbling of Washing material therein are reduced.

6. A washing machine, comprising a casing having a service passage in one end thereof, a cylindrical tub rotatively supported in said casing about a horizontal axis and having a service opening adapted to register with the service passage in said casing, rotatable holders coaxially journaled in the tub and casing, a cylindrical tumble drum mounted upon said holders and revolved thereby, said drum having a perforated side, an end service opening corresponding with the service opening in said tub and longitudinal inwardly directed paddles disposed at circumferential intervals in said drum, and annular cushion tubes interposed between the opposite peripheral end portions of said tumble barrel and said flanges in said holders by which vibration and shock produced by said drum and tumbling of washing material therein is dampened. 1

JOHN J. GEIGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 331,450 Rothe Dec. 1, 1885 1,129,128 Shainline Feb. 23, 1915 1,330,247 Dudley Feb. 10, 1920 1,487,907 Yates Mar. 25, 1924 2,066,998 Nash Jan. 5, 1937 2,267,671 Shearer Dec. 23, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 475,047 Germany Apr. 16, 1929 

